Originally Posted by
sailingfun
I would double check your accuracy on this statement. The great circle route does put you into Russian airspace and the Northern pacific winds often push the optimum route even further north and deeper into Russia.
UAL does SFO-SIN twice a day, comes no where near Russian airspace. SGN and BKK are just a few degrees to the right coming out of SFO. There may be days were a shift north and west for winds might be a little advantageous for BKK, but still completely doable for the 789, which is what the hold up has been, BA deliveries.